4. How to Open a Workbook in Excel

Opening a workbook lets you use a workbook that you or someone else has previously created and then saved. This lesson explains how to open a saved workbook, as well as non-Excel files.

Open a Workbook

You can locate a workbook on your computer and simply double-click it to open it, but you can also open a workbook from within the Excel program.

1. Click the File tab.
   
2. Click Open.

   Press Ctrl + O to quickly display the Open tab of the Backstage view.

3. Select the location where the file is saved.

   You can choose from:

   • Recent: Recent files you've worked on.
   • Shared with Me: Files others have shared with you on OneDrive or SharePoint Online.
   • OneDrive: Microsoft's cloud-based storage.
   • This PC: Browse files on your local computer.
   • Browse: Opens a dialog box where you can browse through your computer's folders, drives, and network shares.
   
4. Select the file you want to open.
5. Click Open.
   

Open a Different File Format

You can also use Excel to open data files created in other programs, like Comma Separated Values or CSV files.

1. Click the File tab.
   
2. Click Open.
3. Select the location where the file is saved.
   
4. Click the file type list arrow and select All Files.
   
5. Select the file you want to open.
6. Click Open.
   
7. If prompted, complete the steps in the Text Import Wizard.